my career as an indie novelist

Isn't that title a mouthful?  My career as an indie novelist, my career as an indie novelist, humph!  Just who do I think I am?

Oh yeah, I'm an indie novelist.  Ahem, well, yes indeed.  So, as an indie novelist for the last few months, what have I learned (and why am I writing this post)?  Well, it's a lot of work, which is fine.  I have a lot of time.  It's balancing work and life, which isn't always easy, especially in November.  When my husband is looking at surgery.  When there are hummingbirds to feed and football to watch and Christmas right around the corner.  But nobody's twisting my arm, I'm doing this of my own free will.  Lately I've been BUSY.  Really busy.  I took this afternoon off, after a long morning of writing, because I wanted to watch football.  And do some laundry.  And write a blog. or two; I was noting the day's accomplishments and it evolved into my career as an indie novelist.  I smile writing that, because my career is very small.  Subdued.  Tiny really, but just because it's not loud and boisterous doesn't mean it's nonexistent.  It's bubbly, effusive within my mind, if nothing else.  Who knows were it will go down the road?  I'm hoping not to write so much in 2012; I want to focus on publishing.  Not necessarily on marketing; that's not my emphasis at the moment.  But maybe one day it will be.  And if that occurs, the books I release now, in these early days, will be my back catalog.  The books I'm publishing now and in the coming year are very important; the Alvin's Farm series contains some of my favorite manuscripts.  I'll publish September Story, a 2009 ABNA semi-finalist, plus This Blog Has No Title, the novel written after Thea's migraine debacle.  I'm going to attempt to release several novels, because one of the things I've learned is for indie/ebook publishing, more is better.  More but not rubbish.  That means eons of editing, reams of revisions.  So much self-motivation because this is all on me.

Independent noveling isn't just writing, it's formatting, covers, timing; having something new for people to read, which isn't a problem for me, one of the reasons I went indie.  Plenty of manuscripts in the vault means I have years ahead of me.  I'm quiet now, but who knows what could/might/will happen.  So I'm thinking about what comes next, I have a plan.  Not fiendish or extravagant, but I know the next batch of books I want to publish.  Using Smashwords has been wonderful; I have few complaints. A couple of issues with ebooks reaching various online distributors, but that's on Smashwords to manage, once I drop them a note.  One goal for 2012 is releasing one or two print novels; I would LOVE to publish the entire Alvin's Farm saga in paperback.  I won't lie; print novels are so authentic, meaningful, old school. Flipping through The War On Emily Dickinson makes me giddy.  If you're thinking of going indie, do consider formatting a print version of your first novel, a total thrill...

If I had to summarize my brief career, as it were, I would note that no longer do I feel anxious about the state of my writing, my novels.  All the agent angst is gone.  Loads of work in its place, but the work is mine, the novels are mine.  The pace, scheduling, and crowing about it mine as well, and some of that I'm better at than others.  But it's all evolving, all the changes I've incorporated just since releasing Emily Dickinson in July.  Goodness only knows what I might be doing in another four months, or a year from now.  But I will say this; in a year I'll be waxing about some aspect of writing.  No matter what it is, under the indie novelist career umbrella all will dangle.  Just how wide that brolly will be is part of the adventure...